This is an activity about seasons. Learners begin by brainstorming a list of activities and events that occur in each season. Next, learners perform an experiment by comparing the temperature on thermometers left under a lamp for different lengths...(View More) of time to illustrate that Earth heats more when the Sun is in the sky longer.(View Less)

This is an activity about the relation between day length and temperature. In one team, learners will create and analyze a graph of hours of sunlight versus month of the year for a number of latitudes. In another team, learners will graph...(View More) temperature versus month for the same latitudes. The teams then compare data and draw conclusions from their analyses.(View Less)

This is an activity about the measurement of time. Learners model the rotation of Earth over one day by holding a flashlight for the Sun and a blow up globe, and record their observations. Then, they use those observations to create devices that...(View More) will track time and test their devices outside. This final part of this activity requires access to a sunny outdoor location for an extended period of time so learners can test their time measurement devices.(View Less)

This is an activity about day and night as a result of the Earth's rotation. Learners will first identify what they already know about day, night, and rotation and will be asked to share any questions they may have. Then, a book is read out loud in...(View More) class and students are asked to identify relevant and important vocabulary words. On day two of this activity, learners will act as the Earth in creating a kinesthetic model of the day and night rotation. Lastly, learners will identify what was learned and complete a worksheet. This is Activity 5 of a larger resource entitled Eye on the Sky.(View Less)

This is a lesson plan for an activity about the nature of the Sun's apparent motion throughout the day. Learners will follow detailed instructions to construct a sundial using everyday materials and make measurements of the shadow cast by the...(View More) sundial. Learners use the shadow cast by the sundial to track the motion of the Sun throughout the day and use these measurements, geometry, and trigonometry to make calculations of altitude and azimuth of the Sun, as well as the time of true local noon and the altitude of the Sun at true local noon. Measurements can be taken during one day only, for a few days, or on many days throughout an entire year to get a more complete picture of the Sun’s apparent motion. This activity requires daytime access to a sunny outdoor location over the course of several hours. This is an activity in the Touch the Sun teacher's guide.(View Less)